Automobile-signal



WFG. THOMAS. AUTOMOBILE SIGNA Y APPLICATION FILED APR-2, 1919 Patented Apr. 20,1920.

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w. a. THOMAS; AUTOMQBILE SIGNAL. APPLICATION HLED APILL 153E9- latented Apr. 20; 1920.-

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"WEST PEIHKSYLVAIE'LQ.

AUTOM IlBILE-SEGNALL Application filed April 2,

To (in whom it may concern Be it known that I, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vest Pittst'on, in the conntyzoi Lnzerne and State ot'qPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Automobile-Signal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signa'lsfor use on vehicles to indicate the directionin which the vehicles are to be-moved, one of the Objects being to provide a simple find, lom-.

pact structure of this character which can be applied readlly to a w shield, is constantly under the con nol of the driver and can be quickly shifted to point toward either side orforwardly, or can be rotated to form a'shield to protect the driver from the elehint ' in the appended claims.

tion of the wind ,In the accompanying drawings the pre ferred formof the invention has'been shown.

Insaid dra\vings-' Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing the indicator extended forwardly.

Fig.2 is a plan view of the device a porshield being shown in section.

, Fig. 3 'is a front elevation of the indicator, two of its positions being indicated by dotted lines.

' Fig. 4; is an enlarged. section through the.

lock of the indicator. Fig. 5 is a diagram adjusted to position for use as a shield.

Referring to the figures by characters ofreterence, 1 designates a portion of a wind shield one side of which is engaged'by a clamp 2 carrying a bearing sleeve 3 extending beyond the front and'baclr faces of the shield." The front end of thesleeve 3 yoke 4 in which a vertical stem 5 is' mounted for rotation,' and secured to this stem, so as to rotate therewith,

isan arm 6 having a WILLIAM G. TnoMAs,

which will ,be. hereinafter be made in the construction.

showing the indicator has a Specification of Le'tt ei's'lEatont. 3Q, 1%?559- 1919. Serial No. 286,537.

shaft 7 journaled. in the tree portion thereof held in alinement .with the longitudinal center'of the sleeve 3. An elongated lamp housing is secured at one end to and is supported by the shatt 7, as indicated at 8, this housing being provided with. a transparent portion 9 which canbe in theform or a pointing hand, an arrow. or the like. The said pointing portion 9 is so 10- cated that, when the housing is extended laterally beyond the wind shield it can be seen from the rear and will point to. the left. Vvhen the housing is swung to posi-- tion in front of the wind shield and parallel therewith, however, the said portion 9 will point to theright and can be seen by persons approachingthe vehicle from in front thereof. The free end of the housing is transparent and can contain the word jAlreadi, as shown at Lampsll are located in the-housing tor illuminating the transparent-portions thereof and are suitably connected by loose conductors to sources of energy.

A beveled gear 12 is secured to the shaft 7 and constantly meshes with a gear 13 loosely mounted on the stem 5, and extending from the arm 6 is a. spring finger 14 carrying a brake shoe 15 adapted to'frictionally engage the teeth of the gear 12 and hold it against accidental rotation.

A tubular shaft 16 is mounted to slide and rotate in tlle'sleer-e 3 and secured to one end of this shaft 16iis atwo faced gear 17 nor mally meshing with a gear '18 securedto and r'evoluble ,with the stem 5. A hand wheel l9 is secured to the outer end of the.

shaft 16 and constitutes means for rotating it and an annular collar 20 is formed on the said shaft and is positioned loosely'within a counterbore Zl fforme in the outer end of the sleeve 3. A spring; is located. in the cou'nterbore and bears at one end against the collar 20 and at its'other end against a ring seated .bore. Thus the shaft 16 is normally pressed toward the stem 5 and gear 17 is held normally in mesh with the gear 18.

.l-l. rod 23 is slidably mounted inthe shaft is provided at its outer end with a having oppositely extending ears s 2% connect these ears with ears ding laterally from. a ring 28 sethe sleeve 3 and the s'aid rods 26 cured or; extend ,l-ietween the spokes of the wheel 19 so that the rod 23 and wheel will rotate toin the outer end of the counterseries ofrecesses 27 formed in a collar 28 secured to the stem 5.

The housing 8 is normally extended forwardly from the windshield and is locked against movement by rod 23 engaging the collar 28. When it is desired to turn the vehicle to the'left the (lI'lVQl' pulls on the" knob 21 so as to disengage the rod 23' from 'the collar 28.

He then rotates the rod 23 and the wheel 19 with the result that the gear 17 will rotate gear 18 and stem 5 and cause the housing 8 to swing to the left,

, thereby exposing the pointer 9 to the view of a driver approaching from the rear. When the vehlcle 1s to be turned to the right the hous ng 1s swung 1n the same manner 'to the right and in front of and parallel with the windshield, thereby exposing the pointer 9 to the view of a person approaching the vehicle from in front thereof. While the housing is in this position it can be sw-ung about its longitudinal axis by pulling shaft 16 longitudinally withoutdisturbing the locking rod 23. This will bring gear 17 into mesh with gear 13. By then rotating the shaft 16 motion will be transmitted through the gears to gear 12 and the shaft-7 caused to rotate to tilt the housing, as shown for example inFig. 5. When in this position the housing will act as a shield to protect the driver from glare.

The device is constantly under the control of the driver, can be shifted quickly and ac curately, and serves as an eflicient signal both day and night. While it has been shown and described attached to a wind shield, it is to be understood that, when used with closed cars, it can be built into the body so as to form a permanent part thereof.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a supporting structure, of an indicating member mounted to swing laterally relative thereto, a shaft mounted to slide and rotate relative to the supporting structure, means operated by the rotation of the shaft when slid to one extreme position, for swinging the member laterally to directionindicating positions, and means operated by the rotation-of the shaft when slid to its other extreme position, for tilting the member about its longitudinal axis. I

The combination with a supporting structure, of an indicating member mounted to swing laterally relative thereto, a shaft mounted to slide and rotate relative to the supporting structure, means operated by the rotation of the shaft when slid to one extreme position, for swinging the member laterally to direction indicating positions, means operated by the rotation of the shaft when slid to its other extreme position, fortilting the member about its longitudinal axis alocking rod slid'able within and revoluble with the shaft, and means cooperating with the rod for securing the member against swinging movement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signa ture in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM THOMAS.

Witnesses:

B. H. HENNING, WILLIAM H. LA BAR. 

